Taiwan ended TAC access for Cambodia passport holders Aug. 1

Headline: Taiwan ended TAC access for Cambodian travelers Aug. 1

Cambodian travelers lost Taiwan’s conditional visa-free entry and group-tour shortcuts on Aug. 1, replacing them with the regular visa application process.

Two entry shortcuts are gone

The suspension covers the Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) and the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries, commonly called the Guanhong Project, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

TAC had allowed eligible Cambodian passport holders to obtain conditional visa-free entry online. Guanhong provided simplified visa rules for qualifying group tourists. Taiwan retained or extended eased entry arrangements for some other Southeast Asian countries, but removed Cambodia from both programs.

Cambodian passport holders must apply through a mission

The change is based on nationality, so it affects Cambodian tourists, expats, long-stay visitors and digital nomads who might previously have qualified for TAC entry. Travelers must now apply for the appropriate visa through a Taiwanese overseas mission, using procedures and forms provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Cambodian passport holders who planned to use TAC for travel after Aug. 1 must apply for a regular visa before departure instead. That adds both cost and processing time: One Taiwanese representative office in the U.S. lists a $50 single-entry visitor visa fee and an estimated seven to 10 business days for processing, though requirements, fees and timelines vary by mission and visa type.

Travelers considering a longer stay can compare the standard entry process with Taiwan’s residency rules.

Taiwan cites reciprocity and fraud concerns

The ministry linked the suspension to Cambodia’s policies toward Taiwan, including its public support for China’s position on the island. It cited reciprocity and concerns about transnational fraud connected to Cambodia.

Taiwan said any restoration of Cambodian access to TAC or Guanhong will depend on the Cambodian government’s future policies toward Taiwan.